MGM-Sony To Partner On '21 Jump Street'

Bond 23… Total Recall… The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo… the list of partnered movies keeps growing longer and longer between Sony Pictures and the reconstituted MGM:

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 18, 2011)- MGM will become a financial partner on the upcoming Sony Pictures Entertainment film 21 Jump Street, it was announced today by MGM Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum and Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton and Co-Chairman Amy Pascal. Sony will handle marketing and distribution, while MGM will handle select international television licensing for the film.

21 Jump Street is part of the recently announced agreement between Sony and MGM to explore co-financing opportunities on future motion pictures produced by each of the respective studios for the next five years. They have most recently partnered on the highly anticipated Bond 23, set for worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

In recent years, the two studios have collaborated on numerous films, including Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, 21, Yours, Mine and Ours, The Pink Panther, and the summer tent pole Kevin James comedy Zookeeper, which opens nationwide on July 8, 2011.

21 Jump Street is based on the television series, which focused on young cops with youthful appearances who work undercover in high schools and colleges. The film is being directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, from a screenplay by Michael Bacall based on a treatment from Hill and Bacall. Neal H. Moritz will produce the film with Stephen J. Cannell, who will receive posthumous credit. The film is set to be released on March 16, 2012.